Review: ‘Maleficent: Mistress of Evil’ captivates audience attention

Disney gives villains a new light

Courtesy+of+Disney.

Courtesy of Disney.

After the Disney movie “Maleficent” hit the screens on May 30, 2014, fans began to develop soft spots in their hearts for the villain, Maleficent (Angelina Jolie), due to the unexpected twist to the famous tale. Five years later, Disney granted fans’ wishes by creating the sequel, “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil,” showing fans what happened after Prince Phillip (Harris Dickinson) woke Princess Aurora (Elle Fanning) with a true love’s kiss. “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil” will captivate die-hard Disney fans with its enchanting story.

“Maleficent: Mistress of Evil” shows the villain’s maternal love for Aurora has grown since the beginning of the movie’s five-year jump. Although, the moment Maleficent finds out about Aurora’s decision to marry Phillip, her protective nature kicks in that causes a drift in her relationship with Aurora. Throughout the film, fans see Aurora’s desire for independence grow, making them wonder what will happen between the two. With this occurrence, the intensity picks up, giving a darker tone to the majority of the movie.

One of the major disappointments of the movie was Elle Fanning’s acting. Although her performance isn’t the worst, it isn’t Oscar-worthy. Her facial expressions could’ve been powerful if she put stronger effort into her acting when it came to the emotional scenes. The way she delivered her lines felt as if she wasn’t confident in herself. Overall, she was bland as an English muffin.

As far as special effects go, the film made fans feel like they were truly in Maleficent’s world. For example, in the scene where Aurora tells Maleficent she said yes to Prince Phillip’s marriage proposal, the forest setting feels peaceful and warm, but at the same time, the audience becomes intrigued by Maleficent’s terrifying yet hilarious reaction. Disney shows Maleficent has always cared about Aurora, even when she “hated” her during her childhood.

All in all, “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil,” is a one-of-a-kind movie people of all ages can enjoy. The viewers will feel their adrenaline pump up as they watch, but this time they will have a better experience because the story is live action. Ultimately, “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil” deserves a 9.5/10 rating because of its captivating storyline, despite Elle Fanning’s dull acting.